Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Social Work England’s decision to raise annual registration fees on the (a) recruitment, (b) retention and (c) wellbeing of social workers; and whether her Department plans to (i) review and (ii) mitigate that increase.

After undertaking a consultation exercise, Social Work England has increased registration and renewal fees. Social Work England released an equality impact assessment alongside their consultation response.

Registration and renewal fees have not increased since 2015 and the decision to increase fees was necessary to ensure the continuation of effective regulation of the social worker profession, thereby ensuring the protection of the public.

Social workers may be able to claim tax on professional member fees. Details on how to do this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/professional-fees-and-subscriptions.

Additionally, social workers have the option to pay registration and renewal fees in full or in two instalments in October and the following April.